No Rise In Dania Tax Rate Sought

DANIA BEACH - — - With business thriving and new investment prospects on the way, City Manager Mike Smith says he will not ask commissioners to increase property taxes.

His proposed $18.93 million budget for the next fiscal year is based on the current tax rate of $6.10 per $1,000 of assessed property values. The proposal is $52,458 more than the current budget.

To balance the proposed budget, Smith would take $868,354 from the $1.79 million surplus fund.

Commissioners did not raise taxes last year. But this year, Mayor John Bertino and Commissioner Bob Mikes are proposing a $3,000 salary increase for elected officials, who each make $10,000 a year. That would be on top the annual $7,562 paid to them for life and health insurance because they turn down coverage the city provides.

During a Thursday budget workshop, Commissioner Jim Cali asked that his peers stop taking the insurance money, which they don't have to justify how they spend.

"It's sad. I'm very upset. Why should I be paid for not getting something?" he said.

Cali said he would vote against the budget.

Smith said the annual $81.31 in fire-rescue assessment and $20 storm water assessment also will not go up.

"The budget is not going to boost the tax bill," Smith said. "The only way people are going to pay higher taxes is if the [Broward County] Property Appraiser's Office increases the valuations."

In fact, the proposal shows that citywide property values grew from $909.66 million in the 1998-99 fiscal year to $996.16 million this coming fiscal year.

The next two years, city officials expect developers to invest more than $50 million in such things as new residential communities, hotels and office retail stores.

Under the $6.10 tax rate, the owner of a house worth $70,000 who takes the $25,000 homestead exemption will pay the same municipal assessment of $274.54. However, a property owner whose house rose in value this year will see a larger tax bill.

Smith said the surplus fund eliminates the need to raise property taxes. He said a proposed bond issue for March 2000 is another reason property owners should not have to deal now with a tax increase. If voters back the bond issue, property taxes might rise.

The proposed budget calls for a 4 percent raise for firefighters and a 2 percent salary increase for general employees.

The Fire Department's proposed $5 million budget, and the $5.3 million for the police contract with the Broward Sheriff's Office, account for more than 50 percent of the proposed budget.

"It has always been that way, and it will continue to be that way," Smith said of the two departments' expenses. "Public safety is very important."

Among other things, Smith said the proposed budget will cover the salary of three additional school crossing guards, a parks and recreation director and two new part-time secretaries, among other expenses.

Former Mayor Bobbie Grace said she was concerned about the budget getting bigger each year.

"Eighteen million dollars for a small city like that? And on top of that they want to implement a bond issue," Grace said, adding that she would further scrutinize the proposal.

Residents will be able to scrutinize the proposal during public hearings prior to the commission's voting on it.

Thomas Monnay can be reached at tmonnay@sun-sentinel.com or 954-385-7924.